Murder charge in strangulation sent to grand jury

Murder charge in strangulation sent to grand jury

A 20-year-old Chattanooga man will face a grand jury on charges he strangled a 75-year-old woman to death with a vacuum cleaner cord.

Reginald Mapp Jr., was arrested Sept. 21, six days after the daughter of the victim found her mother, JoAnne Moore Desha, on the floor of her 2302 Marco Circle home.

Police found Desha's Cadillac at Mapp's home while executing a search warrant. They also found the car's manual in Mapp's bedroom.

Mapp told police he bought the car from Desha for $200 and denied having anything to do with her death.

Desha's rings and cellphone are believed to have been stolen but have not yet been recovered.

General Sessions Judge Christie Mahn Sell sent the case to the grand jury after a preliminary hearing Tuesday. The grand jury typically takes at least four to six weeks to determine whether there will be an indictment.

Chattanooga police Detective James Tate and Crowder both testified during Wednesday's hearing.

Mapp is being held at the Hamilton County Jail on a $500,000 bond, according to court records.